δεν vs μη(ν) | Greek Grammar

Greek has two grammatical negators, and the choice is not about emphasis. δεν negates an indicative clause—a claim presented as fact, prediction, or hypothetical result. μη(ν) belongs in non-indicative frames: prohibitions, clauses introduced by να or ας, purposes, and warnings or fears about something that may happen. English not and don't do not encode this mood distinction, so English speakers must choose by the Greek clause frame, not by the English translation.

The two particle slots

The safest decision is to look immediately to the left of the verb. Greek has two paired patterns:

Clause frame	Negative pattern	Example
indicative	δεν (+ θα) + clitic + verb	δεν το ξέρω, δεν θα έρθει
subjunctive / hortative	να / ας + μη(ν) clitic + verb	να μη μιλάς, ας μην το πούμε
prohibition / warning	μη(ν) clitic + verb	μη φύγεις, μην το πειράξεις

These frames are packages, not independent particles to mix freely. Indicative θα pairs with δεν. Subjunctive να and hortative ας pair with μη(ν) and do not take θα.

Choose separately for each clause, not once for the entire sentence. A main indicative clause may contain a να-clause, so both negators can legitimately appear: each occupies the slot belonging to its own verb.

Δεν μπορώ να μην ανησυχώ όταν δεν απαντάς.

dhen boró na min anisichó ótan dhen apandás

I can't help worrying when you don't answer.

Here the matrix indicative δεν μπορώ and the temporal indicative δεν απαντάς take δεν, while the embedded να μην ανησυχώ takes μην. English renders the middle idea idiomatically as “can't help worrying,” hiding precisely the Greek contrast learners need to see.

Δεν έρχεται σήμερα· έχει πυρετό.

dhen érchete símera· échi piretó

He isn't coming today; he has a fever.

Δεν θα σου το πω από το τηλέφωνο.

dhen tha su to po apó to tiléfono

I won't tell you over the phone.

Both sentences present a negative claim. The future particle does not change the negator: the whole indicative sequence is δεν + θα + clitics + verb.

μη(ν) after να and ας

A να-clause does not assert a fact by itself. It presents an action as wanted, necessary, possible, or contemplated, so its negator is μη(ν). The order is να + μη(ν), never the reverse.

Θέλω να μη μιλάς όταν οδηγώ.

thélo na mi milás ótan odhighó

I don't want you talking while I'm driving.

Πρέπει να μην αργήσεις αύριο, γιατί φεύγουμε στις επτά.

prépi na min aryísis ávrio, yatí févume stis eptá

You mustn't be late tomorrow, because we're leaving at seven.

Ας μην του το πούμε ακόμα· δεν είναι σίγουρο.

as min tu to púme akóma· dhen íne síghuro

Let's not tell him yet; it isn't certain.

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Do not decide from the English word not. Decide from the Greek frame: δεν (θα) for an indicative claim; να/ας + μη(ν) for a contemplated action.

Purposes, prohibitions, and warnings

A negative purpose has για να μη(ν): someone acts so that another event will not occur.

Έφυγα νωρίς για να μην κολλήσω στην κίνηση.

éfigha norís ya na min kolíso stin kínisi

I left early so that I wouldn't get stuck in traffic.

μη(ν) can also open a prohibition or a warning without a written να:

Μη φύγεις χωρίς να μου πεις γεια.

mi fíyis chorís na mu pis ya

Don't leave without saying goodbye to me.

Πρόσεχε μην πέσεις, τα σκαλιά είναι βρεγμένα.

próseche min pésis, ta skaliá íne vreghména

Be careful not to fall; the steps are wet.

With verbs of fear, μη(ν) introduces the feared possibility—roughly “lest” or “in case.” It does not itself mean that the embedded event is negative.

Φοβάμαι μη χάσει το τρένο με τόση κίνηση.

fováme mi chási to tréno me tósi kínisi

I'm afraid she might miss the train in all this traffic.

Contrast Φοβάμαι μη φύγει “I fear he may leave” with Φοβάμαι ότι δεν θα φύγει “I fear that he will not leave.” The second contains an embedded indicative claim and therefore uses δεν. See μη(ν) and μήπως for this special fear pattern.

The -ν in μη(ν)

The alternation in μη(ν) is live and follows the immediately following sound—including the first clitic, if there is one.

Form	Before	Examples
μην	vowels; κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ; γκ, μπ, ντ, τσ, τζ	μην αργήσεις, μην πας, μην το πεις
μη	all other consonants	μη μιλάς, μη βιάζεσαι, μη χάσεις

This is phonology, not a formal/informal choice. μην το keeps -ν because the next word begins with τ; μη μου drops it before μ. By contrast, present-day δεν is usually written with its -ν everywhere.

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Apply the sound test to the very next word, even when it is a clitic: μην το πεις keeps -ν before τ, but μη μου το πεις drops it before μ. The main verb is irrelevant once a clitic intervenes.

Common Mistakes

1. Using μη(ν) inside an ότι-clause that reports a fact. An asserted past indicative takes δεν.

❌ Όλοι ξέρουν ότι μην πήγε στη δουλειά χθες.

Incorrect — ξέρουν ότι presents the embedded clause as fact, so its negator is δεν.

✅ Όλοι ξέρουν ότι δεν πήγε στη δουλειά χθες.

óli ksérun óti dhen píye sti dhuliá chthes

Everyone knows that he didn't go to work yesterday.

2. Putting δεν inside a να-frame. The paired sequence is να + μη(ν).

❌ Θέλω να δεν μιλάς τόσο δυνατά.

Incorrect — να-clauses take μη(ν), not δεν.

✅ Θέλω να μη μιλάς τόσο δυνατά.

thélo na mi milás tóso dhinatá

I want you not to speak so loudly.

3. Dropping the -ν before a vowel. μη(ν) keeps it before αργήσεις.

❌ Πρέπει να μη αργήσεις πάλι.

Incorrect — before a vowel, write μην.

✅ Πρέπει να μην αργήσεις πάλι.

prépi na min aryísis páli

You mustn't be late again.

4. Using δεν in a warning with πρόσεχε. The feared possibility takes μη(ν).

❌ Πρόσεχε δεν σπάσεις το ποτήρι.

Incorrect — after πρόσεχε, introduce the unwanted possibility with μη.

✅ Πρόσεχε μη σπάσεις το ποτήρι.

próseche mi spásis to potíri

Be careful not to break the glass.

Key Takeaways

Use δεν for indicative facts and predictions: δεν (+ θα) + clitics + verb.
Use μη(ν) in the paired subjunctive slot: να/ας + μη(ν)
- clitics + verb, never with θα.
Purpose clauses use για να μη(ν); prohibitions, warnings, and some fear clauses use μη(ν) without written να.
μην appears before vowels and stops; μη before other consonants. This is a live sound-conditioned alternation, not a register choice.

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